Looking to justify your reality TV habit? Listen in as we explore why this genre deserves to be taken seriously, with both its positive and frightening impacts on our society and psychology. Topics Covered -The history of reality TV—how the format and drama originated -Behind the scenes: how casting, scripting/prompting, and editing really work -Why we find reality TV addicting and its psychological impact on the cast and audience -How trends in reality TV viewership have changed over time -The difference in content and approach between Western produced reality TV and Eastern (Korean, Japanese) Sources & transcript available to anyone at our ⁠⁠Patreon⁠⁠ ❤️

You’ve heard of Jonestown and Heaven’s Gate, but what about cargo and hot yoga cults? We dive into two unusual cults we didn’t know existed: the Cargo Cults of Melanesia and the Bikram Yoga cult. Topics Covered - Fitness and health cults like YouTube high carb low fat vegans and Soulcycle - Amanda Montell's book Cultish - The history of Bikram yoga and its founder Bikram Choudhury - The crimes, scandals, and ongoing cultish behavior from the Bikram community - The origins of Cargo Cults and the John Frum Movement Sources & transcript available to anyone at our ⁠⁠Patreon⁠⁠ ❤️

Ever wondered how Olympic host cities are selected and how much they have to spend? We dig into the big budgets behind the gold medals. Topics covered: -The history of the Olympics and its revival in modern day -Why the International Olympic Committee says countries should host -What independent research shows about the economics of hosting -Deep dive into the economics of the Beijing 2008 Summer Olympics + Paris 2024 Summer Olympics Sources & transcript available to anyone at our ⁠⁠Patreon⁠⁠ ❤️